Candidates

Rodger Cuzner, Liberal

Michelle Smith, NDP

Maria Coady, Green

Adam Rodgers, Conservative

The Port Hawkesbury pier. (RYAN TAPLIN / Staff / File)

The most sprawling riding in the province encompasses most of Cape Breton and a large chunk of Guysborough County. Traditionally the Cape Breton portion votes more Liberal while the mainland share of the riding skews Conservative. This could make for a larger challenge for Rodger Cuzner, the Grit whose held the seat since 2000, as the most recent redistribution expanded the riding farther into the mainland. But Cuzner has held the riding since 2000 and this is seen as a safe Liberal seat.

CANDIDATES

Maria Coady (Green): Coady is a home-care nurse in Inverness and Victoria counties. She has run provincially in the past and volunteered as campaign manager in provincial and federal campaigns, including co-managing leader Elizabeth May's 2008 bid in Central Nova. She lives off-the-grid in Northeast Margaree.

Rodger Cuzner (Lib): Cuzner has held several key positions in the Liberal caucus since 2000 including parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Jean Chretien. In the last parliament he served as Liberal critic for Human Resources and Skills Development and labour.

Adam Rodgers (Con): Rodgers, 37, of Port Hawkesbury is a partner in the firm Boudrot Rodgers and a graduate of Dalhousie University. Rodgers became the president of the Strait Area Chamber of Commerce in 2013. He is originally from Guysborough Intervale.

Michelle Smith (NDP): Michelle Smith is a farmer from Skye Glen, Inverness County, and the secretary of Seeds of Diversity Canada, a national organization dedicated to preserving heirloom and endangered food crops